Refugees & Asylum Seekers
About Refugees
A refugee, defined by the United Nations Convention, is any person who has a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their:
- Race
- Religion
- Nationality
- Membership of a particular social group
- Political opinion
According to the UNHCR we are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.
There are also 10 million stateless people.
About Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers are people who have applied for protection and are awaiting determination of their status.
For more information about asylum seekers click here
More Information
- UNHCR Figures at a Glance
- UNHCR Refugee stories
- Amnesty International – Short films about refugees recommended by human rights educators
- Refugee and Asylum Seeker facts – Australian Red Cross
- 5 ways you can help refugees
- Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Refugee Health Guide (2018)
Why focus on Refugee Health – Includes information about people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum in Australia, how people can be identified and common health concerns for people from refugee backgrounds. Read it here.
A Rapid Review of Evidence-Based Information, Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Addressing the Health Needs of Refugees and Migrants – Report to the World Health Organization (April 2018) – Read the full report here.
Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Human Rights Snapshot Report (2nd ed.)
Published by the Human Rights Commission. Read the full report here.